Maximum number of f4v2 4 port controllers from x lights show

[Christmasdisplay100]

Hi there registered today and looking to purchase a controller and expander was looking at f4v2 and expander and wondered if I had 3 of these units on the ethernet network each with a ip address vs n more than one of these units be used as a complete show within x lights or can you only control. From x lights the one complete controller plus expanders

[k6ccc]

You can have plenty of E1.31 controllers on your network.  Personally last year I ran about 140 universes spread between eight various controllers.  You can run far more than that.

[Christmasdisplay100]

So if I'm. Understanding this correctly each controller is a universe so three first universe would be controller 1 which is 192.168.2.1 and the second could be controller 2 which could be 192.168.2.2 I'm new to the pixel. Lighting so only just kerning I came from the aroura and slight controller background in 2009

[Poporacer]

So if I'm. Understanding this correctly each controller is a universe

No, a Universe is just the data transmission container. You need enough universes to transmit all of your show data. A controller can receive and process any number of Universes (up to the controller's limit) Universes have no direct correlation to Controllers, ports, or models, it is just the "bucket" used to carry the data from one point to another. You might want to look at:

https://falconchristmas.github.io/FPP_Manual.pdf#page=127

so three first universe would be controller 1 which is 192.168.2.1 and the second could be controller 2 which could be 192.168.2.2

The IP address can be any legal address in your network. Depending on how many channels each controller will be responsible for will determine the number of Universes that you would define for each controller.

[Christmasdisplay100]

ok thankyou very much for your help

[pixelpuppy]

Paraphrasing and adding to what PopoRacer said.

Each controller has its own IP address and each one must be unique and valid for your show network address range.

Each controller can receive and process MANY universes and there can be multiple universes of data sent to each output port on the controller.

A universe can transfer data for 170 pixels and pixel controllers can run a lot more pixels than that, so the controllers are configured to "listen" for multiple universes ... as many as needed to contain all the data for how many pixels are attached to that controller

Typically each controller will be assigned a block of universes to handle all the channels of data it might need.

Universe numbers do not have to be contiguous and do not have to be sequential, but its usually easier to manage them in blocks or ranges  with gaps to allow for expansion of a controller.  For example:  101-1xx for controller 1, 201-2xx for controller 2, etc. 

You can have a LOT of controllers on one network.  Most of us don't even come close to the limit and some have pretty big shows.

[Christmasdisplay100]

I've just ordered 2 packages from falcon both f4v3 controllers the expansion boards for each and 4 receiver boards